S. Korean PM supports six-party talks to denuclearize North
- 관리자
- 2009.06.16
- Hit 4540
SEOUL, June 16 (Yonhap) -- South Korean Prime Minister Han Seung-soo on Tuesday expressed concerns over North Korea's nuclear ambitions and emphasized the role of six-party talks in disarming the communist neighbor.
"The implications of North Korea's nuclear test are not confined to the Korean Peninsula alone," Han said in an opening remark at the Special Meeting of the Council of Presidents of the General Assembly of the United Nations, being held in Seoul. "It is raising tension in Northeast Asia and across the globe."
The council, composed of former presidents of the U.N. General Assembly, was formed in 1997 and holds annual sessions in New York along with special meetings in other cities. Han served as a chairman of the U.N. General Assembly between 2001 and 2002.
Following North Korea's underground nuclear test last month, its second ever, the U.N. Security Council adopted Resolution 1874, strengthening an arms embargo and calling for ship inspections.
"I believe this council also should express its full support to the efforts of the Security Council in responding to the situation and reaffirming that the six-party talks continue to be the main framework for resolving the North Korean issue," Han said.
The multinational talks -- joined by the two Koreas, U.S., Japan, China, and Russia -- are aimed at ending the North's nuclear program. They have been stalled since late last year due to a disagreement over how to verify Pyongyang's nuclear declaration.
Following a U.N. condemnation of its April rocket launch, North Korea said it would "never" rejoin the talks.
During the council meeting, which ends on Wednesday, U.N. millennium development goals, the financial crisis and climate change will be high on the agenda. The council is expected to issue a "Seoul Statement" following the meeting's conclusion, according to South Korea's foreign ministry.
From YonhapNews(http://english.yonhapnews.co.kr)
"The implications of North Korea's nuclear test are not confined to the Korean Peninsula alone," Han said in an opening remark at the Special Meeting of the Council of Presidents of the General Assembly of the United Nations, being held in Seoul. "It is raising tension in Northeast Asia and across the globe."
The council, composed of former presidents of the U.N. General Assembly, was formed in 1997 and holds annual sessions in New York along with special meetings in other cities. Han served as a chairman of the U.N. General Assembly between 2001 and 2002.
Following North Korea's underground nuclear test last month, its second ever, the U.N. Security Council adopted Resolution 1874, strengthening an arms embargo and calling for ship inspections.
"I believe this council also should express its full support to the efforts of the Security Council in responding to the situation and reaffirming that the six-party talks continue to be the main framework for resolving the North Korean issue," Han said.
The multinational talks -- joined by the two Koreas, U.S., Japan, China, and Russia -- are aimed at ending the North's nuclear program. They have been stalled since late last year due to a disagreement over how to verify Pyongyang's nuclear declaration.
Following a U.N. condemnation of its April rocket launch, North Korea said it would "never" rejoin the talks.
During the council meeting, which ends on Wednesday, U.N. millennium development goals, the financial crisis and climate change will be high on the agenda. The council is expected to issue a "Seoul Statement" following the meeting's conclusion, according to South Korea's foreign ministry.
From YonhapNews(http://english.yonhapnews.co.kr)